Top.



6 0 9 1 9% N A J D B T N E T A P .N. A T H P R0 Gm W APPLICATION FILEDAPR. 1, 1905.

In van for.

John LU. Gra Han,

witnesses.

W QWPiM Afforney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed April 1 1905. Serial No. 253,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. GRATTAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tops designed for theamusement or diversion of children and adults; and the invention relatesparticularly to that class of tops in which the spinning thereof isinduced by. means of blows from a whip-lash wielded by the player.

The object ofthe invention is to provide a toy in the nature of aspinning-top which differs from former lash-tops, so called, in that thebody of the top is provided with horizontal rings or grooves whichpermit of the lash taking hold of the top when wrapped around; and afurther object of the invention is to provide a series of verticalgrooves or corrugations extending across the body of the top, the lattergrooves being intended to engage a small knot on the end of thewhiplash. By the employment of the vertical grooves referred to a betterpurchase is provided for, and a top constructed in this manner may bemade to spin much faster and longer than the former makes of tops.

Other features and parts of the invention will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and in Which Figure 1 is an elevation of the topembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement ofthe vertical grooves. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the top inoperating position, also showing the whip-lash applied to the top.

In the drawings, 2 represents t e body of the top, which is preferablymade of hardwood.

3 3 represent the horizontal grooves or rings formed in the surface ofthe body 2. 4 4 represent the vertical grooves or slots, also formed inthe body of the top.

5 represents the point or pivot upon which the top spins. This point orpivot may be formed, as shown in the drawings, on the body by turning atthe same time the toy is made; but the preferred manner of constructingthe said point is to provide a roundheaded tack or nail, which is driveninto the center of the cone-shaped portion 6.

7 represents awhiphandle, 8 the lash, and 9 the small knot formed on theend of the lash.

In practice the player starts the top by twirling it with his hands, andthen while it is in motion he strikes it repeated blows with thewhip-lash. Each successive blow will cause the top to spin at a higherrate of speed, and after a few strokes of the lash it will continue tospin for several minutes without further attention. By the use of theform of top herein shown and described a single player may manipulateseveral tops at the same time.

It will be obvious that changes and modifications may be made in myinvention without departing from it, and I therefore do not wish torestrict myself to the precise form of construction described herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A top of the class described, comprising a wooden body portion, aseries of horizontal grooves or corrugations formed in the surface ofsaid body, vertical grooves formed across the horizontal grooves andadapted to engage a knot on the end of a whip-lash, sub stantially asdescribed.

'2. A top of the class described, comprising a wooden body having onefiat end and one cone-shaped end, a plurality of annular corrugations orgrooves formed in the surface of said body, a plurality of groovesformed lengthwise of said body adapted to engage a knot or like partformed on the end of a whiplash, substantially as described.

3. A top of the class described, comprising a cylindrical body havingone fiat, and one cone-shaped end, annular rings or corrugations formedaround said body, and grooves formed lengthwise of said body adapted toprovide a purchase or hold for a knot formed on the end of a whip-lash.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. GRATTAN.

Witnesses:

EDGAR V. BLOODOUGH, HARRY DE WALLACE.

